My Meeting with Prime Minister Golda Meir

"You are destined to live in Israel.” This prophecy was given to me numerous times as a young girl in my early 20’s. At that time, there were areas of my life not fully given over to the Lord, and moving to Israel to me sounded like I was being shipped off to a third world country like Afghanistan or Siberia.

But on October 15, 1967, exactly 40 years ago, I arrived in Israel for a two-week visit with my parents. Only four months before, the little nation of just over two million Jewish citizens had escaped complete annihilation by the concerted efforts of Syria, Jordan and Egypt, and had achieved a victory that was beyond the imagination of the prime minister, the army chiefs and the whole population of Israel.

The euphoria of the nation was indescribable. To the Orthodox Jews, there was no doubt the Days of Messiah were here.

You are destined to live in Israel.” This prophecy was given to me numerous times as a young girl in my early 20’s. At that time, there were areas of my life not fully given over to the Lord, and moving to Israel to me sounded like I was being shipped off to a third world country like Afghanistan or Siberia.

But on October 15, 1967, exactly 40 years ago, I arrived in Israel for a two-week visit with my parents. Only four months before, the little nation of just over two million Jewish citizens had escaped complete annihilation by the concerted efforts of Syria, Jordan and Egypt, and had achieved a victory that was beyond the imagination of the prime minister, the army chiefs and the whole population of Israel.

The euphoria of the nation was indescribable. To the Orthodox Jews, there was no doubt the Days of Messiah were here.

To the secular citizens, a miracle had occurred.The Arabs were terribly beaten and surely had learned their lesson. There would be no more war! And all repeated in joyous rapture, “Jerusalem is once again ours!” It was into these stratospheric heights that my parents and I landed in Israel.

However, I soon discovered that there was only a tiny remnant of Jewish believers in the land. For all practical purposes, they didn’t exist. Yes, there was a family here and an individual there. Victor Smadja and his family, immigrants from Tunisia, had already established the Messianic Assembly in Jerusalem; and the Heimoff family (now Bar David) that emigrated from Bulgaria had a small group meeting in a Tel Aviv suburb.

I thought to myself, “How in the world will the Israeli people, with only a tiny handful of believers in the land, ever have the opportunity to hear a clear explanation of salvation, according to the Bible?”

Even though I had no prior plans to remain in Israel, after consulting with my father, I decided to produce a 30 minute documentary on the establishment of the new state of Israel and the recent return of Jerusalem to the Jewish people exactly as it had been foretold by the prophets. I felt it was critical for Christians to understand that important portions of Biblical prophecy were unfolding and Israel needed the prayers of intercessors worldwide. I also began to study the Hebrew language.

Together with my language studies, I spent almost three years working on this film which I called “Dry Bones.” I struggled for sometime over the script, and then one day I thought to myself, “Why should I describe current fulfillment of prophecy? I have the best script writers in the world! Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zachariah to name a few!” And so I spent many months pouring over the books of the entire Old Testament.

Each time I read a verse that foretold the suffering or described the glory of the coming Messiah, or talked about the return of the Jewish people to Israel, or Jerusalem’s restoration, I wrote the portions on a card. In those days there were no computers! When I was finished, I had a stack of cards quite a few inches tall. Out of those Scriptures I created a script and contracted an Israeli company to produce the film which I directed.

Golda Meir stands at a memorial service for fallen soldiers. Beside her is the famous General Moshe Dayan and other government officials

During the filming, I had many opportunities to witness to my cinematographer, Adam Greenberg, who went on to be a much sought-after director of photography in Hollywood, filming movies such as “Terminator,” with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I searched for a very expressive voice with an Israeli accent to read the script which as I said, was entirely made up of Scriptures from the Old Testament. I was introduced to Yossi Yadin, a famous actor in Israeli theater, and brother of the celebrated archeologist, Yigael Yadin, who excavated Masada and Megiddo, and who later became Deputy Prime Minister. Yossi agreed to narrate the film.

In order to physically make the script, I simply took a Bible and cut out the Scriptures, one by one, and pasted them on paper. At first Yossi was taken back, asking if I wasn’t desecrating the Bible by cutting it up. I told him that desecrating the Bible was done by those who did not keep the commandments written in it. He was satisfied with the answer and we recorded the narration.

Yossi told his family and friends about our project, and later on, I was asked to direct an archeological film for Yigael Yadin on Megiddo (known as Armageddon in the New Testament.)

Yossi also talked to Golda Meir, then Prime Minister of Israel, about “Dry Bones.” She told him she wanted to see the film herself. Knowing how busy she was, I wrote her, offering to bring the film to her home. She invited me to show her the film on Aug 10, 1971. With great anticipation, this opportunity brought me to much prayer!

As a girlfriend and I prayed, I seemed to see Golda Meir on her bed at night, looking up and asking, “Is there really a God?” I also felt that there was going to be some type of spiritual opposition to this invitation, and I and my friend began to pray with deep intercession that the Lord would allow me to show her this film without interruption.

The day came for me to take the film and I entered with a large bouquet of flowers. I remember the security people looking carefully through it to make sure there was no bomb planted among the stems. Several aids and family members were also there.

After small talk, the film began. Its theme portrayed Israel in the late sixties a nation raised out of the ashes just as the prophets had prophesied would come to pass in the latter days. There was also a section where the narrator read Isaiah 53, about the suffering Messiah who would die for the sins of His people. The images portrayed a Messiah-like figure falling among his sheep in a black and white, heavily overexposed film, giving it a mystical appearance. That scene was interwoven with a sheep being slaughtered on an altar. It ended with the prophets’ call to repentance, and God’s promise in Ezekiel to redeem his sheep from the wolves among the nations.

When the film was finished there was silence. Then Golda asked, “What part of the film was Old Testament and what part was New?” I answered, “The entire narration was only Old Testament.” She sat thoughtfully, and then said, “But why the blood? What significance does it have?” Of course, that opened up the theme of the priestly office of the Levitical tribe which was commanded to shed the blood of animals in order to pay the price for the sins of the Israelites. I stressed that only after the shedding of blood, could the Cohenim (priests) enter into the presence of God to make petition for the people.

“That,” I explained, “is why Jesus had to die and offer his life so we might live. He is the Lamb of God. He is the way to permanent forgiveness of sin for the Jewish people - and, in fact, all who want it. He is the gateway to the presence of the God of Israel.”

Golda again brought up the scene of Isaiah 53, and said softly, “That was Jesus.” I was amazed at how open her heart seemed to be as she spoke.

Suddenly, another person in the room shouted out rather angrily, “This is idol worship (avodah zarah)! This is against Judaism!”

That ended our conversation. But I had spent almost an hour speaking about the way to salvation with Prime Minister Golda Meir. I felt certain that through our prayers (and others who had been praying for us) that the Lord held back the comments of the angry man until the prime minister had had an opportunity to hear the Good News through the prophets’ own words. I left her residence at midnight, after having spent two hours with her; I felt God had desired that she have opportunity to ask questions of her heart.

The next day I received a phone call from the same aid who had burst out with his comments of idol worship. He told me that the prime minister had enjoyed very much the film and the evening. In fact, he told me, that everyone there had found the evening very interesting.

(Photo on the right: My early days living in Jerusalem. Around 1970.)

I heard, after she died in 1983, that a believing doctor who had cared for her in the hospital, said she accepted Yeshua as her Messiah. Because so many rumors swirl around Israel, I have no idea if the story is true or not. But I do know she asked serious questions and listened carefully to the Good News of Israel’s ancient prophets. One day the Good News will permeate this land in such clarity and power that all Israel will be saved. We believers in Israel today are pioneers, knowing that eventful day is coming! And oh! How we long to see it!

Selected Golda Meir Quotations

I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.

We have always said that in our war with the Arabs we had a secret weapon - no alternative.

The Egyptians could run to Egypt, the Syrians into Syria. The only place we could run was into the sea, and before we did that we might as well fight.

It’s no accident many accuse me of conducting public affairs with my heart instead of my head. Well, what if I do? … Those who don’t know how to weep with their whole heart don’t know how to laugh either.

Photo:Golda Meir and other government officials vote "yes" to the United States peace proposal in 1970.

We don’t want wars, even when we win.

Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil!

Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.

If only political leaders would allow themselves to feel, as well as to think, the world might be a happier place.

When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.

An Arab mother who loses a son in battle weeps as bitterly as any Israeli mother.

Have you ever asked yourself

What is more important to God?

The Land of Israel or...

The people of Israel?

What will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

God loves His Land.

But His people are His own image.

All (the people of) Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:26)

Praying for Our Soldiers

The phenomenon of some 300 Israeli soldiers who are walking with the Lord in the light of the Old and New Testaments is making an impact on the State of Israel. The military authorities are progressively coming to appreciate the value of these exemplary soldiers - who are known to carry out their work with excellence, morality and honesty.

Every Sabbath morning, our congregation prays for the soldiers present in our congregation along with those who are on duty.

Rosh Ha'Shana at Congregation Tiferet Yeshua

As every parent knows, our children are our most precious gift we have. So it is with our congregation as we watch them grow up in the faith and become teenagers, committed to our Messiah. We continue to pray for them as they enlist in the army - and after that, attend college or take on a new career. These young people are the hope and future of Israel. They are the core of what will become one day a mighty move of God in our land.

October 2007

Dear Maoz Partner,

God is leading us to concentrate more and more on the next generation - the hope of Israel - our children, teens and soldiers.

There are no two ways about it. They carry the future of Israel on their shoulders.

Children have their entire life before them to serve the King.

Even now children bring their unsaved parents regularly to our congregation often resulting in full family salvation.

Today’s children have it all - TV, internet, ipods, movie theaters and countless sources of entertainment and information.

We cannot teach or reach this generation in the same way we did 20-30 years ago.

But thank God, He has given us strategies to reach today’s Israeli children.

1. First of all, quality teachers. The larger our congregation grows, the greater the selection we are seeing of dedicated, qualified and imaginative teachers.

2. Facility is absolutely necessary. In the last year we rebuilt the air conditioning system for the entire 5,000 feet (1500 meter) floor of the children and youth and at this moment we are installing a full sprinkler system on their floor.

3. Children’s materials translated into Hebrew. Our children’s department is working on more and more materials to present the Gospel to our children in a way that will go deep into their spirits. That means qualified workers to prepare the materials together with the finances to publish the materials and to administrate the department.

As the children grow into their teens and then serve in the army, we continue to serve them by providing them with leadership, facilities, musical instruments and equipment for worship, a place for their own fellowship, and the capability to sponsor many outings, happenings, spiritual retreats and events that give us opportunity to connect and minister to them. We are also currently providing an open house in cooperation with a Souled Out leadership team for our young people.

Who doesn’t know that the world offers its “best” to entice our sons and daughters to follow the ways of the world?

We are committed to giving our best to develop and disciple our youth so that they will in every way fulfill their dreams and purposes for which they were born, and be shining lights to our lost nation.

What motivates us to keep plowing, sowing, and reaping? The understanding that these children and youth are part of the core pioneers for the future revival in Israel promised by God!

We are keeping our eyes on the promises: Behold the plowman will one day overtake the reaper when God restores the captivity of His people! Amos 9:13-14

We present you with this opportunity to sow and reap with us today. Each year the harvest increases because of the labor, prayer and faith invested the year before.

Come, plant and invest with us in this year’s harvest!

For Zion’s sake,

Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram

We will send you Shira Lindsay's Dry Bones DVD for any donation this month to any of the projects of Maoz Israel Ministries:

My Meeting with Prime Minister Golda Meir

"You are destined to live in Israel.” This prophecy was given to me numerous times as a young girl in my early 20’s. At that time, there were areas of my life not fully given over to the Lord, and moving to Israel to me sounded like I was being shipped off to a third world country like Afghanistan or Siberia.

But on October 15, 1967, exactly 40 years ago, I arrived in Israel for a two-week visit with my parents. Only four months before, the little nation of just over two million Jewish citizens had escaped complete annihilation by the concerted efforts of Syria, Jordan and Egypt, and had achieved a victory that was beyond the imagination of the prime minister, the army chiefs and the whole population of Israel.

The euphoria of the nation was indescribable. To the Orthodox Jews, there was no doubt the Days of Messiah were here.

You are destined to live in Israel.” This prophecy was given to me numerous times as a young girl in my early 20’s. At that time, there were areas of my life not fully given over to the Lord, and moving to Israel to me sounded like I was being shipped off to a third world country like Afghanistan or Siberia.

But on October 15, 1967, exactly 40 years ago, I arrived in Israel for a two-week visit with my parents. Only four months before, the little nation of just over two million Jewish citizens had escaped complete annihilation by the concerted efforts of Syria, Jordan and Egypt, and had achieved a victory that was beyond the imagination of the prime minister, the army chiefs and the whole population of Israel.

The euphoria of the nation was indescribable. To the Orthodox Jews, there was no doubt the Days of Messiah were here.

To the secular citizens, a miracle had occurred.The Arabs were terribly beaten and surely had learned their lesson. There would be no more war! And all repeated in joyous rapture, “Jerusalem is once again ours!” It was into these stratospheric heights that my parents and I landed in Israel.

However, I soon discovered that there was only a tiny remnant of Jewish believers in the land. For all practical purposes, they didn’t exist. Yes, there was a family here and an individual there. Victor Smadja and his family, immigrants from Tunisia, had already established the Messianic Assembly in Jerusalem; and the Heimoff family (now Bar David) that emigrated from Bulgaria had a small group meeting in a Tel Aviv suburb.

I thought to myself, “How in the world will the Israeli people, with only a tiny handful of believers in the land, ever have the opportunity to hear a clear explanation of salvation, according to the Bible?”

Even though I had no prior plans to remain in Israel, after consulting with my father, I decided to produce a 30 minute documentary on the establishment of the new state of Israel and the recent return of Jerusalem to the Jewish people exactly as it had been foretold by the prophets. I felt it was critical for Christians to understand that important portions of Biblical prophecy were unfolding and Israel needed the prayers of intercessors worldwide. I also began to study the Hebrew language.

Together with my language studies, I spent almost three years working on this film which I called “Dry Bones.” I struggled for sometime over the script, and then one day I thought to myself, “Why should I describe current fulfillment of prophecy? I have the best script writers in the world! Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zachariah to name a few!” And so I spent many months pouring over the books of the entire Old Testament.

Each time I read a verse that foretold the suffering or described the glory of the coming Messiah, or talked about the return of the Jewish people to Israel, or Jerusalem’s restoration, I wrote the portions on a card. In those days there were no computers! When I was finished, I had a stack of cards quite a few inches tall. Out of those Scriptures I created a script and contracted an Israeli company to produce the film which I directed.

Golda Meir stands at a memorial service for fallen soldiers. Beside her is the famous General Moshe Dayan and other government officials

During the filming, I had many opportunities to witness to my cinematographer, Adam Greenberg, who went on to be a much sought-after director of photography in Hollywood, filming movies such as “Terminator,” with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I searched for a very expressive voice with an Israeli accent to read the script which as I said, was entirely made up of Scriptures from the Old Testament. I was introduced to Yossi Yadin, a famous actor in Israeli theater, and brother of the celebrated archeologist, Yigael Yadin, who excavated Masada and Megiddo, and who later became Deputy Prime Minister. Yossi agreed to narrate the film.

In order to physically make the script, I simply took a Bible and cut out the Scriptures, one by one, and pasted them on paper. At first Yossi was taken back, asking if I wasn’t desecrating the Bible by cutting it up. I told him that desecrating the Bible was done by those who did not keep the commandments written in it. He was satisfied with the answer and we recorded the narration.

Yossi told his family and friends about our project, and later on, I was asked to direct an archeological film for Yigael Yadin on Megiddo (known as Armageddon in the New Testament.)

Yossi also talked to Golda Meir, then Prime Minister of Israel, about “Dry Bones.” She told him she wanted to see the film herself. Knowing how busy she was, I wrote her, offering to bring the film to her home. She invited me to show her the film on Aug 10, 1971. With great anticipation, this opportunity brought me to much prayer!

As a girlfriend and I prayed, I seemed to see Golda Meir on her bed at night, looking up and asking, “Is there really a God?” I also felt that there was going to be some type of spiritual opposition to this invitation, and I and my friend began to pray with deep intercession that the Lord would allow me to show her this film without interruption.

The day came for me to take the film and I entered with a large bouquet of flowers. I remember the security people looking carefully through it to make sure there was no bomb planted among the stems. Several aids and family members were also there.

After small talk, the film began. Its theme portrayed Israel in the late sixties a nation raised out of the ashes just as the prophets had prophesied would come to pass in the latter days. There was also a section where the narrator read Isaiah 53, about the suffering Messiah who would die for the sins of His people. The images portrayed a Messiah-like figure falling among his sheep in a black and white, heavily overexposed film, giving it a mystical appearance. That scene was interwoven with a sheep being slaughtered on an altar. It ended with the prophets’ call to repentance, and God’s promise in Ezekiel to redeem his sheep from the wolves among the nations.

When the film was finished there was silence. Then Golda asked, “What part of the film was Old Testament and what part was New?” I answered, “The entire narration was only Old Testament.” She sat thoughtfully, and then said, “But why the blood? What significance does it have?” Of course, that opened up the theme of the priestly office of the Levitical tribe which was commanded to shed the blood of animals in order to pay the price for the sins of the Israelites. I stressed that only after the shedding of blood, could the Cohenim (priests) enter into the presence of God to make petition for the people.

“That,” I explained, “is why Jesus had to die and offer his life so we might live. He is the Lamb of God. He is the way to permanent forgiveness of sin for the Jewish people - and, in fact, all who want it. He is the gateway to the presence of the God of Israel.”

Golda again brought up the scene of Isaiah 53, and said softly, “That was Jesus.” I was amazed at how open her heart seemed to be as she spoke.

Suddenly, another person in the room shouted out rather angrily, “This is idol worship (avodah zarah)! This is against Judaism!”

That ended our conversation. But I had spent almost an hour speaking about the way to salvation with Prime Minister Golda Meir. I felt certain that through our prayers (and others who had been praying for us) that the Lord held back the comments of the angry man until the prime minister had had an opportunity to hear the Good News through the prophets’ own words. I left her residence at midnight, after having spent two hours with her; I felt God had desired that she have opportunity to ask questions of her heart.

The next day I received a phone call from the same aid who had burst out with his comments of idol worship. He told me that the prime minister had enjoyed very much the film and the evening. In fact, he told me, that everyone there had found the evening very interesting.

(Photo on the right: My early days living in Jerusalem. Around 1970.)

I heard, after she died in 1983, that a believing doctor who had cared for her in the hospital, said she accepted Yeshua as her Messiah. Because so many rumors swirl around Israel, I have no idea if the story is true or not. But I do know she asked serious questions and listened carefully to the Good News of Israel’s ancient prophets. One day the Good News will permeate this land in such clarity and power that all Israel will be saved. We believers in Israel today are pioneers, knowing that eventful day is coming! And oh! How we long to see it!

Selected Golda Meir Quotations

I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.

We have always said that in our war with the Arabs we had a secret weapon - no alternative.

The Egyptians could run to Egypt, the Syrians into Syria. The only place we could run was into the sea, and before we did that we might as well fight.

It’s no accident many accuse me of conducting public affairs with my heart instead of my head. Well, what if I do? … Those who don’t know how to weep with their whole heart don’t know how to laugh either.

Photo:Golda Meir and other government officials vote "yes" to the United States peace proposal in 1970.

We don’t want wars, even when we win.

Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil!

Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.

If only political leaders would allow themselves to feel, as well as to think, the world might be a happier place.

When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.

An Arab mother who loses a son in battle weeps as bitterly as any Israeli mother.

Have you ever asked yourself

What is more important to God?

The Land of Israel or...

The people of Israel?

What will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

God loves His Land.

But His people are His own image.

All (the people of) Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:26)

Praying for Our Soldiers

The phenomenon of some 300 Israeli soldiers who are walking with the Lord in the light of the Old and New Testaments is making an impact on the State of Israel. The military authorities are progressively coming to appreciate the value of these exemplary soldiers - who are known to carry out their work with excellence, morality and honesty.

Every Sabbath morning, our congregation prays for the soldiers present in our congregation along with those who are on duty.

Rosh Ha'Shana at Congregation Tiferet Yeshua

As every parent knows, our children are our most precious gift we have. So it is with our congregation as we watch them grow up in the faith and become teenagers, committed to our Messiah. We continue to pray for them as they enlist in the army - and after that, attend college or take on a new career. These young people are the hope and future of Israel. They are the core of what will become one day a mighty move of God in our land.

October 2007

Dear Maoz Partner,

God is leading us to concentrate more and more on the next generation - the hope of Israel - our children, teens and soldiers.

There are no two ways about it. They carry the future of Israel on their shoulders.

Children have their entire life before them to serve the King.

Even now children bring their unsaved parents regularly to our congregation often resulting in full family salvation.

Today’s children have it all - TV, internet, ipods, movie theaters and countless sources of entertainment and information.

We cannot teach or reach this generation in the same way we did 20-30 years ago.

But thank God, He has given us strategies to reach today’s Israeli children.

1. First of all, quality teachers. The larger our congregation grows, the greater the selection we are seeing of dedicated, qualified and imaginative teachers.

2. Facility is absolutely necessary. In the last year we rebuilt the air conditioning system for the entire 5,000 feet (1500 meter) floor of the children and youth and at this moment we are installing a full sprinkler system on their floor.

3. Children’s materials translated into Hebrew. Our children’s department is working on more and more materials to present the Gospel to our children in a way that will go deep into their spirits. That means qualified workers to prepare the materials together with the finances to publish the materials and to administrate the department.

As the children grow into their teens and then serve in the army, we continue to serve them by providing them with leadership, facilities, musical instruments and equipment for worship, a place for their own fellowship, and the capability to sponsor many outings, happenings, spiritual retreats and events that give us opportunity to connect and minister to them. We are also currently providing an open house in cooperation with a Souled Out leadership team for our young people.

Who doesn’t know that the world offers its “best” to entice our sons and daughters to follow the ways of the world?

We are committed to giving our best to develop and disciple our youth so that they will in every way fulfill their dreams and purposes for which they were born, and be shining lights to our lost nation.

What motivates us to keep plowing, sowing, and reaping? The understanding that these children and youth are part of the core pioneers for the future revival in Israel promised by God!

We are keeping our eyes on the promises: Behold the plowman will one day overtake the reaper when God restores the captivity of His people! Amos 9:13-14

We present you with this opportunity to sow and reap with us today. Each year the harvest increases because of the labor, prayer and faith invested the year before.

Come, plant and invest with us in this year’s harvest!

For Zion’s sake,

Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram

We will send you Shira Lindsay's Dry Bones DVD for any donation this month to any of the projects of Maoz Israel Ministries: